Monthly Archives : January 2019

Finishing out the final two weeks at your job can be a tough task but, handled the right way, you can use it as a way to launch yourself into your new position with momentum and confidence.

In our first post in this series, we pointed out that experts emphasize offering your support by helping transition in your replacement or drafting a summary of your daily duties. A transition plan can be a helpful tool for your employer, as well as a mindset of maintaining bridges when you leave, not burning them.

In this post, we’ll continue offering the insight of workplace experts whose advice can help you turn your final two weeks into a success story.

Finish Up Any Remaining Tasks You Have

Ryan O’Neil, funder of St. Louis-based Curate, an event software company, says your final two weeks should be a time for you to finish out your remaining workload. Don’t assume you can brush off the work you committed to do before leaving.

“If someone gives their two weeks, that’s totally understandable especially in situations where we’re too small of a company for a particular skill set,” he said. “But, if you really work hard to finish off any remaining tasks you have on your list and help create a transition plan, you better believe I’ll recommend you at a later day or even hire you again as we grow.”

This advice is something we also heard from Philip Livingston, a digital marketing specialist at Condo Control Central.

“I strongly believe you should work harder than you ever have in the final two weeks, so that when you leave everyone will have a good last impression of you,” he said.

Resist the Urge to Live Out a Rage-Filled Quitting Fantasy

Most of us have had that frustration-fueled fantasy in which our last day of work ends with leaving the building in a blaze of disgruntled glory.

“As tempting as it may be to tell people what you really think of them on your way out the door, please don’t do it! If you really need to get it off your chest, write a letter at home and don’t send it,” she said. “You can symbolically let go of all your negative emotions towards the prior firm or boss by destroying the letter in whatever way most appeals to you.”

As far as how you should handle your goodbyes, Cafasso says the safe way to go is to wish your coworkers the best.

“No more is necessary,” she said. “If you had a positive relationship with the person, ask if they’d like to connect via LinkedIn. If you were friends, see if they’d feel comfortable staying in touch on Facebook.”

Set Up Lunches or Drinks with the People You Want to Maintain Friendships With

It can be hard to set aside time with your best work friends as you’re getting ready to transition to a new job, but it’s worth it to be intentional about meeting up with them before you leave, said Anna Hunter, founder at ArcVida,

“Ask yourself: Whom do you want to be able to email in a few years knowing they’ll respond? Who is excited about the same things you’re excited about? Who has the kind of positive energy that means they likely have a powerful network of their own,” Hunter asked. “Those are the people with whom you want to schedule time out of the office.”

Not only will these last few meet-ups help you gain a sense of closure, but they’ll also increase your network, which could come in handy further down your professional journey.

“The last two weeks in any job are a great time to strengthen relationships so you leave the company with a stronger network than when you came in,” Hunter said.

Wrapping Up the Series: Some Final Reminders About Finishing Strong

Handing in your two-week notice is a freeing thing to do because it means you’re moving on by virtue of your own decision. In some cases, you’re leaving because you can’t stand your current position. In other cases, the move is the beginning of a new phase of your career. Either way, how you leave will say a lot about your character as a professional.

Try your best to put your former company in the best possible position when you’re gone. Provide a transition plan and finish work you’re able to reasonably complete before you go. Avoid burning bridges out of bitterness and, when you can, spend some time with your favorite coworkers before you go.

Americans are quitting their jobs at the fastest rate in nearly 20 years.

And, according to the U.K.’s HR Magazine, January is the most popular time of the year for quitting. Regardless of the reason, most of those who decide to make a career change share one thing in common: two weeks’ notice.

Depending on your work situation, you may view these two weeks as your chance to burn bridges and move on to bigger and better things. Or, if the job change is a positive one for everybody involved, it can be a pleasant end to a great story.

Whichever the case, the last two weeks at your job is an important time not only to prepare for your big change, but also to leave the right way.

Be Supportive

Petal Bovell-Proffitt, a consultant with HR firm DISC Bodhi, encourages employees on their way out to support their company by tying up loose ends and delegating in-progress tasks to ensure a smooth transition.

“It’s easy to take the easy way out and sail through your last two weeks, however, your manager and team may still need you to be present and supportive,” she said.

In her opinion, “support” means meeting with your managers and helping them see what your role is in current projects and what needs to be done to make sure nothing falls through the cracks when you leave.

“Help your manager and team to understand your work projects, where you are in the process, and the next steps for completion. Create a cheat sheet to make life simple for the team. Identify all outstanding projects,” she said. “Help them locate essential documents and files by sharing where it is located, or even better, create a folder with all projects, files, and critical resources.”

Present a Transition Plan with Your Notice

The first step to supporting your employer on your way out is to provide a transition plan with your two weeks’ notice, said Laura Handrick, a career analyst at Fit Small Business.

“The best thing I’ve done and seen others do is to provide your employer with a transition plan at the same time as you give your two weeks’ notice,” Handrick told us. “What that means is that you give your employer a document that maps out all the activities you currently do, and then describes who those activities should likely transition to, and how you will prepare that person, or that job task for the transition.”

This will balance out the suddenness of your exit and will reflect well on you should a future employer want to contact your current one. It never hurts to be as professional and helpful as possible, no matter what the situation.

Focus on Maintaining Bridges, Not Burning Them

Philip Livingston, a digital marketing specialist at Condo Control Specialist, said the final two weeks at a job can be a relational strain. In his case, the final two weeks at the last job he left were uncomfortable.

“It was a bit awkward interacting with other employees leading up to my departure,” he said. “They made it seem like I was betraying them, or I was wrong for wanting to further my career.”

Your instinct might be to return their disdain or disapproval with your own salvos of frustration but, Livingston said, push through the weirdness for the sake of the good relationships you have among the awkward ones.

“Try your best to leave on a good note and resist the urges to not come into work or to be rude to your colleagues,” he said. “It was tough for me to say goodbye to everyone but, at the very least, I tried to stay in touch with those I considered friends.”

Be Prepared to Stop Working the Day You Give Your Notice

Most of us assume that our two weeks’ notice means that we’ll be at the company for two more weeks. After all, you’re giving your employer enough notice to find someone to replace you. However, that doesn’t mean there are things going on behind the scenes that would make it more beneficial for the employer to let you go the day of your resignation.

“Even if you map out your last two weeks’ activities in detail, don’t be surprised if your employer offers to pay your last two weeks and subsequently asks you to exit the office the very day you provide notice,” Handrick said.

If you’re a well-liked employee, there’s a good chance your bosses won’t want to upset your colleagues and they may ask that you keep the news private.

“It’s not about you per se, but they may not want the work environment disrupted as employees, sad to see you go, stream into your office in tears upon learning about your departure,” she said.